GREENVILLE, South Carolina, May 28, 2012 (AFP) — Liquigas-Cannondale rider Timmy Duggan won the USA Cycling pro road race national title on Monday, making a solo attack on the final circuit section of the 181km race. Frank Pipp (Bissell) won the sprint for second ahead of Kiel Reijnen (Team Type 1-Sanofi), both finishing 26 seconds back.

"It's one of the most satisfying days of my career," said Duggan, who finished in four hours, 17 minutes and 40 seconds. "It's incredible. I've been thinking about this for a long time and it's exactly how it happened."

The peloton split on the first of four laps over Paris Mountain. BMC Racing's Tejay van Garderen attacked low on the final climb. Garmin's Tom Danielson joined him just short of the summit and defending champion Matthew Busche of RadioShack made it a three-man lead group early in the descent.

Duggan and Bissell's Ben Jacques-Maynes closed the gap as the leaders headed into downtown Greenville for three closing circuits around a downtown course, Duggan moving to the front and opening a gap on the first circuit.